“We Can’t Take The Risk To Work With Gov’t Spies” NUP Allegedly Rejects Coalition With Besigye’s Party

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has rejected any suggestion of forming a political coalition with the newly formed People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), accusing its members of acting as spies for the ruling regime and “moles” seeking to weaken the opposition.

The decision came just hours after the PFF announced it would not field a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. Instead, the party, which includes several veteran opposition figures, declared its intention to pursue a coalition with major opposition forces—namely the NUP and the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)—to present a single, unified presidential candidate to challenge President Yoweri Museveni.

Responding to the announcement, NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, speaking on a local radio program on 16 September 2025, emphasized that the party was confident in its own strength and saw no need for an alliance it considers compromised.

“We believe we are strong enough on our own, and we do not need disruptions from these other so-called forces of change,” Ssenyonyi said.

He went further, labeling the PFF leadership—which includes figures from past opposition movements such as the Reform Agenda and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)—as individuals who have historically served to legitimize Museveni’s rule.

“The people in PFF are known spies of Museveni who are just there to destabilize the opposition and ensure Museveni’s continued stay in power,” Ssenyonyi asserted.

He also criticized the political record of PFF members, arguing that their repeated inability to unseat Museveni over the years disqualifies them from leading a renewed opposition effort. “They have been here during the days of the Reform Agenda, FDC, and now PFF. They have clearly failed to oust Museveni. Let them step aside, and we will show them how it’s done,” Ssenyonyi added.

This rejection highlights the challenges facing opposition unity in Uganda and underscores the long-standing rivalries and divisions that continue to fragment the country’s political opposition.